OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1915, Page 4

OBITUARY.

A NELSON BENEFACTOR. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Nelson, Last Night. 1 The death occurred this evening of Mr. Thomas Cawthom, at the age of 82. Mr. Cawthom was born at Camberwell, Surrey, and came to New Zealand at the age of 15, with his father, who settled in Nelson. After an absence of a few years in Wellington and Australia Mr. Thomas Cawthom returned to Nelson in 1857, and entered into the shipping business. For many years he was agent for the principal lines trading to the place, when Nelson was one of the most important ports of the colony, and :also transacted a very large business as 'shipping contractor. He accumulated a large fortune, which in late years he drew upon with greatest liberality to benefit the city, and among his more important benefactions to Nelson are the now hospital about to be erected, for which'lie gave £15,000; Cawthom Park, a beautiful forest reserve of 2500 acres near the city; a flight of stone steps on Church Hill, costing £1,8(10; an organ in the School of Music, costing £1,800; and a gift of £2,500 to' clear off the indebtedness of the Institute, ne also made valuable benefactions to Nelson Institute and other public institutions. At the time of his death he was elaborating a scheme for further expenditure for public benefit, including a eolar phvsies observatory, estimated to cost £30,000.